Su Fan packed up his stall and left Shaoyang Market.
For the time being, he did not plan to set up a stall again. He wanted to see how things developed first.
Su Fan kept feeling that the Qiankun Society had no good intentions.
His thoughts had barely settled when someone came knocking a few days later.
Su Fan opened the door and found several talisman masters from the open-stall market standing outside.
The man at the front was called Fei Tong. He was at the Mid Qi Refining Stage. Thanks to his profound attainments in talisman-making, he had some fame in Shaoyang Market.
"What brings you gentlemen here...?"
Fei Tong cupped his hands and said, "Talisman Master Fan, forgive us for coming uninvited today. We wanted to discuss something with you."
Su Fan hurriedly invited them inside.
After hearing Fei Tong and the others explain, he understood the whole story.
The Qiankun Society had manipulated the market and raised the prices of talismans, and the talisman masters had initially been quite pleased.
As the talisman masters raised their prices, the shops in the market followed suit, provoking widespread complaints from the rogue cultivators.
But the talisman masters were happy for only two days before they were informed that the Qiankun Society would purchase a batch of talismans from them every month at only seventy percent of the former price.
If they wanted to set up stalls in the open-stall market, they had to accept this condition. Otherwise, they could forget about entering the market to do business.
How could the talisman masters in the market accept such exploitation? Thus, led by Fei Tong, they were preparing for a collective market boycott.
They also planned to organize themselves and report the Qiankun Society's misdeeds to the Qingxuan Sect.
"Talisman Master Fan, all the talisman masters in the market will gather at my home tomorrow to discuss how to resist the Qiankun Society's misdeeds. We hope you will attend on time."
Su Fan thought for a moment and said, "All right. I'll definitely be there tomorrow."
Fei Tong and the others gave him a few more instructions before taking their leave one after another.
Watching their backs, Su Fan shook his head.
The Qiankun Society had indeed gone too far. By offending every talisman master in the market, they were courting the wrath of the masses.
He had to go tomorrow. After all, he still had to make a living in the market. If he did not participate at a time like this, his reputation there would be ruined.
The next day, Su Fan arrived at Fei Tong's home.
He saw many people gathered outside. Besides numerous talisman masters, there were also several disciples of the Qingxuan Sect.
Su Fan furrowed his brows, and a trace of foreboding rose in his heart.
As soon as he walked over, several talisman masters who knew him surrounded him.
"Last night, Fei Tong's entire family was murdered. The Qingxuan Sect's Law Enforcement Team determined that rogue cultivators were responsible."
"I think it was definitely the Qiankun Society. How could there be such a coincidence...?"
"Exactly. We'll go to the Qingxuan Sect and demand an explanation in a while..."
"If the Qingxuan Sect doesn't give us an explanation, we'll boycott the market..."
All of them were filled with grief and outrage, passionately denouncing the Qiankun Society.
Su Fan's face darkened. This matter definitely had something to do with the Qiankun Society.
He had not expected the Qiankun Society to be so savage that they would slaughter Fei Tong's entire family.
This was clearly killing the chicken to frighten the monkeys.
Going to the Qingxuan Sect for an explanation at a time like this would probably be useless.
The sect disciples responsible for managing the market did not know how many benefits they had accepted from the Qiankun Society. How could they possibly speak up for the talisman masters?
Besides, someone among the market's talisman masters had certainly been bought off by the Qiankun Society.
Though these talisman masters looked furious and impassioned, in a few days, the Qiankun Society would break them apart one by one.
After staying outside Fei Tong's home for a while, he used an excuse to leave.
Su Fan did not plan to participate in what came next.
The Qiankun Society had no bottom line whatsoever. Who knew what kind of trouble they might cause?
It would be fine if he stopped setting up his stall in the market. At worst, he could sell his talismans to the shops instead. He would merely earn a little less; after all, the materials had all been bought cheaply.
I can't afford to provoke you, but surely I can still hide from you.
For the next month, Su Fan barely left home.
He stayed in every day to cultivate and draw talismans.
Ye Tianhe would come over from time to time. The two of them would have a drink at noon and practice swordplay in the courtyard in the afternoon.
Practicing swordplay with the Sword Maniac truly made his swordsmanship improve at lightning speed.
Moreover, far from the bustle of the market, Su Fan's talisman-making skills advanced by leaps and bounds.
By now, he had mastered the production of more than a dozen low-grade talismans, and his success rate was not low.
Because his supply of mid-grade talismans was extremely abundant, Su Fan had never intended to make much spirit stone from low-grade talismans.
Now that he no longer set up a stall, he periodically sent the low-grade talismans he had accumulated to the market's shops.
Although the profits were smaller, it saved him time and trouble.
Su Fan had already begun studying mid-grade talismans. He was diligently practicing on xuan paper, and his progress was quite fast.
In any case, he had been very comfortable during this period.
His days passed leisurely and carefree.
Su Fan felt that he finally looked a little like an immortal cultivator.
One day, he rose early. After finishing his cultivation of the Primordial Chaos Technique, he was just about to make breakfast when he heard someone knocking outside.
Su Fan came to the courtyard and opened the door. Several people were standing outside.
Every one of them wore a fierce expression. No matter how he looked at them, they were clearly no good.
Su Fan frowned slightly and cupped his hands. "And you are...?"
At the front was a Fifth Level of Qi Condensation cultivator. He had a rough appearance, a face covered in stubble, a bulbous alcoholic's nose, and an exceptionally vicious gaze.
He shoved Su Fan aside, walked straight into the courtyard, looked around, and then glanced back at Su Fan.
"You're a talisman master, right?"
The moment Su Fan heard this, he guessed where they had come from. They were definitely from the Qiankun Society.
Damn it, they're bullying me right at my own door.
"Yes, I am..."
"I heard your talisman-making skills are pretty good. Why aren't you setting up a stall in the market anymore?"
Hearing this, Su Fan immediately understood why they had come.
A trace of anger rose in his heart.
Whether I go or not is none of your damn business.
"I only know how to draw a few low-grade talismans. My skills are still far from good."
The burly man gave a cold laugh. "How come I heard that you used to sell nothing but mid-grade talismans?"
Su Fan put on a bitter expression. "I was selling them on consignment for a friend. He has left the market now, so I lost my livelihood too."
"We're from the Qiankun Society. You can draw low-grade talismans, can't you? From now on, we'll buy your talismans."
"That won't do. A shop has already ordered all the talismans I draw."
Before the burly man could respond, someone beside him glared.
"Why are you talking so much? You don't want to make a living in the market anymore...?"
Su Fan took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his anger.
"That isn't what I meant. I'm just a nobody who draws talismans. I rely on the market to get by."
The burly man glanced around the courtyard again and said with a chuckle, "We'll discuss the talismans later. I think this courtyard of yours is quite nice. Are you planning to sell it?"
Hearing the burly man's words, the others laughed.
The fire in Su Fan's heart suddenly burst into flames and could no longer be suppressed.
Damn it, I've tolerated you for long enough.
They had come to bully him, and now they were even coveting his house. How the hell was he supposed to endure that?
Su Fan straightened his face and waved them away.
"I'm certainly not selling my talismans to you, and I have no intention of selling the house either. Please leave."
"You're courting death..."
The others immediately flew into a rage and were just about to rush forward when the burly man stopped them.
He cast a sinister look at Su Fan and cupped his hands.
"Since fellow cultivator insists, we won't disturb you any longer. Farewell..."
Watching their backs, Su Fan sneered inwardly.
Buying his talismans at a low price would have been bad enough, but they even wanted to seize his house. How could they bully someone this badly?
Even if he wanted to endure it now, he could not. They did not merely want his wealth; they wanted his life as well.
Fei Tong's entire family had just been slaughtered. How could they possibly let him go? Tonight was bound to be anything but peaceful.
Since you're courting death, don't blame me for being ruthless.
He had killed cultivators in the Mid Qi Refining Stage before, and more than one at that.
How many days of peaceful living had he enjoyed? Now this bunch had ruined it again.
Why is it so difficult to lie low in the Cultivation World?
Forget it. He should stop making a living in Shaoyang Market. After killing these people tonight, he would abandon this house.
He would change his identity and leave Shaoyang Market on the next flying boat.
He would find a quiet place and cultivate in peace.
As for Ye Tianhe, he had never even considered telling him about this mess.
If he had provoked the demonic sect, he could ask Ye Tianhe for help.
But this matter involved the Qingxuan Sect, so it was hard to say.
Though the two of them got along fairly well, Ye Tianhe was still a disciple of a sword sect. Why would he stand up for a low-level rogue cultivator like him?
Better to part on good terms and form a favorable connection.
Su Fan began packing his things, putting all the important items into his Storage Bag.
He then pasted several Mother-Child Warning Talismans onto the outer courtyard wall.
He looked up at the sky. Judging from the weather, it might rain tonight.
Night fell, with darkened skies and fierce winds.
There was no bright moon or glittering stars tonight, only a pitch-black canopy overhead.
The gale raged, whipping the leaves into a roaring rustle. Dark clouds surged like waves, and the air was unusually oppressive.
The black clouds rolled heavily across the night sky. Snake-like bolts of lightning tore through the heavens, flickering in and out of sight amid the thick clouds.
Crack!
A bolt of lightning ripped open the darkness, and heaven and earth were instantly dyed a ghastly white.
Su Fan sat cross-legged inside the house. Rumbles reached his ears, accompanied by the crackling roar of the torrential rain.
The rain is this heavy. Could those fellows really not come tonight?
Forget waiting. I'll sleep for a while first.
But before he could even lie down, the Mother-Child Warning Talisman at his waist suddenly grew scorching hot.
Su Fan stood up and slapped a Adamantine Talisman onto his body.
Then he drew his ritual sword, held his breath, and hid behind the door.
Outside, lightning flashed and thunder boomed as raindrops the size of beans poured down in torrents.
Several men wearing bamboo hats stood in the courtyard.
The man at the front was the burly man from earlier. He had been a rogue cultivator, vicious and brutal by nature, before being recruited by the head of the Qiankun Society.
During the day, he had taken a fancy to Su Fan's courtyard at first glance.
Despite the torrential rain, he had been unable to restrain himself and came that night.
In his view, dealing with a minor cultivator at the Qi Refining Third Layer would be effortless. He did not even need to act personally.
"Big Tiger, go in and butcher that brat for me..."
A rogue cultivator behind him took his ritual sword and walked over.
He kicked the door open and charged inside.
Bang!!
A figure flew out of the house, sailing over the heads of the others before crashing heavily beneath the courtyard wall.
Immediately afterward, someone rushed out of the house.
"Not good..."
The burly man retreated several steps in panic, slapped his Storage Bag, and pulled out a long sword magical artifact.
Whoosh!!
Before he could launch an attack with the sword, his opponent had already brought his own sword down.
The burly man did not even think. He raised the long sword magical artifact and held it before him.
Bang!!
He felt a tremendous force surge over. The long sword flew from his grip, and his body was blasted into the air before crashing into the courtyard with a smack.
The burly man had just tried to get up when a flash of lightning appeared beneath his opponent's feet, and the man was already in front of him.
A flash of sword light passed.
His head shot into the sky.
From the moment Su Fan came out to the moment he severed the burly man's head, only an instant had passed.
The others beside him had not reacted at all.
Only when the burly man's head flew into the air did they charge forward in terror.
"Kill him and avenge our boss..."
After killing the burly man at the Fifth Level of Qi Condensation, the remaining followers at the early Qi Refining Stage were no match for him at all.
Several streaks of sword light flashed, and the courtyard was soon piled with severed limbs.
Su Fan gripped his sword with both hands and stood amid the howling rain, panting heavily.
"Such a lowlife, and he still dared to bully me..."
He walked over to the burly man, removed the Storage Bag from his waist, and then cleaned up the battlefield.
After killing someone, it was time to make a run for it.
Su Fan took one last look at the familiar little courtyard.
What a fine house. What a pity.
Su Fan shook his head and turned to leave the courtyard.
Suddenly, he discovered that someone had appeared atop the courtyard wall at some unknown point.
He had no idea when they had gotten there.
Before you continue